Cessna TR182 accident near Oakdale, California, January 30, 1982
On January 30, 1982 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N5173R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oakdale, California (Oakdale airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1982 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N5173R · no longer on the register · serial R18200638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO PORPOISE SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, BECOME AIRBORNE WITH THE LANDING GEAR IMMEDIATELY RETRACTING, THEN NOSE DOWN WITH THE PROPELLER STRIKING, THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET WHILE IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN. THE NOSE THEN PITCHED DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 384 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 365 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 360 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 027 Oakdale CA at 3:03 pm
- Destination: 027 Oakdale CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:00 pm from SAC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.